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Different Faces, Same Heartbreak
Written by
Natasha Neri
, Special to Redcross.org
Wednesday, October 05, 2005 — Jackson, Miss. – In the first days of operation, the American Red Cross Regional Service Center in Jackson brought hope into the lives of hundreds of people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Families from Louisiana and Mississippi have received the financial assistance they need to start rebuilding their lives from the ground up.
Ollie Bullok talks with a caseworker at the American Red Cross Regional Service Center, in Jackson, Miss.
(Photo Source: Natasha Neri/American Red Cross) |
Mississippian Ollie Bullok, 54, is one of the people who received assistance at the center. When she first walked in, Bullok’s only expectations were to be interviewed by a caseworker and included in reports about Hurricane Katrina. But when she walked out holding a check, Bullok was delighted and surprised with the financial assistance she received to help restart her life.
“They heard my story and understood my three grandkids and I need help,” Bullok said. “I feel like I’ve been blessed. I can’t even believe it,”
Born and raised in Mississippi, Bullok moved to Hattiesburg two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit. She was evacuated to a Red Cross shelter in Monticello, Miss., and after that went to her sister’s house in Jackson. When she went back to check on her home, she found flooding and destruction.
“My house was messed up. There was roof damage and leaks all over it. Almost all the furniture, clothes and gadgets I had moved in there were destroyed. It would cost a lot of money to fix it,” she said.
Bullok, who is physically disabled, lives on a fixed income that is shared among her and her three grandchildren, who live with her. After what happened, she doesn’t want to live in Hattiesburg anymore. Bullok says that she will clean up the mess, and then move to an apartment in Jackson. She has already planned how to use the money she received from the Red Cross.
“I’ll use the check to pay my apartment’s security deposit, buy used furniture and some clothes for me and my grandkids,” she said. I have faith I’ll slowly solve all my problems.”
Brenda McKay, 38 and two months pregnant, drove from Louisiana to the center in Jackson to get financial assistance to repair her home. She lives with her two children and three other relatives in Ponchatoula, La., an area largely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
McKay sought refugee at the home of relatives in Northern Louisiana and was only able to return when Hurricane Rita was over. As she described what she found, her eyes welled up and her voice faded.
“There was no road, no signs. My house had half roof and half sky,” she said. “The water came in and there is mold everywhere. I’ll have to throw all my furniture away.”
McKay, previously a receptionist, is out of work due to Hurricane Katrina. She had to borrow money from relatives to drive to Jackson. With the assistance provided by the Red Cross, she will be able to start repairing her home.
“I had no insurance, no extra money and nowhere else to live. This is the first assistance I’ve got so far. I’m very grateful that the Red Cross gave me this money,” McKay said.
Leana Nelson, 50, also drove from Louisiana to get help at the service center. She lives in St. John Parish and had to evacuate her family of five to a hotel in Northern Louisiana. One week after Katrina hit, she went home to check the damage and found a neighborhood ruled by chaos.
“Trees fell on the roof and there were leaks in the house. People were breaking into houses and stealing things. It was horrible,” Nelson recalled.
Also uninsured, she went to the Red Cross service center to ask for help and was pleased by the service.
“The volunteers were very hospitable and welcoming.” Nelson said.
According to her, parts of trees remain on her roof and much of her house, built in 1965, will have to be redone. Nelson, who considers herself a strong woman, is prepared to get her hands dirty and repair her house. She says the financial assistance provided by the Red Cross will help make that happen.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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